The British-Australian electronic duo AR/CO coins international togetherness on a new anthemic single ‘Generation Love.’ Its kaleidoscopic frequency conveys a transcending message of ‘love and good people always win.’
Noctis catches up with Mai-Koa and Leo Stannard from AR/CO after four years of hits, triumphs, collaborations, and even a GRAMMY nomination. AR/CO shares that they spent the entirety of January at the studio preparing for their debut US tour and cooking up tracks for the upcoming summer.
Since our last conversation, AR/CO’s discography has gained world-renowned DJ collaborators such as Dom Dolla, Hayden James, Rudimental, and Fisher. AR/CO’s symbiotic vocal range has evolved into a signature blend sought out by other artists.
Alongside the liberating ‘Generation Love,’ AR/CO unveils a return to the duo’s club roots, with a more polished sound and a more significant presence in the United States. Read on for more of an inside scoop on the Summer soundtrackers AR/CO.
We spoke back in 2021, could you tell us what has changed in your lives since then, or summarize how different your lives are now?
Things look and sound pretty different since then! We’re spending a lot more time across in the US, which we love. We’re really leaning more into our club roots, and our music has evolved in an incredible way. All this and somehow have learned to pack a carry-on so well we don’t have to check bags. We’ve been busy.
Who is AR/CO today versus four years ago?
Definitely more polished, behind decks but still as fun as ever.
Did you set any goals for 2025?
More music, more collabs, and wildly aiming for a few more Grammy nods/noms from our peers. *fingers crossed*
You ended the year on a high note with a mega collab with Fisher on ‘Ocean.’ How did you and Fisher link up and what does the track invoke in you?
That was such an amazing moment! Fisher is an incredible artist, and we’ve always been fans of his work. We had a shared vision for ‘Ocean’, he’s an ex pro surfer so it really resonated with him. We’re really inspired by nature in AR/CO, so this one is our nod to mother nature.
Congratulations on your new single ‘Generation Love,’ what a powerfully optimistic track that will certainly help us to get through the January gloom. What inspired the song’s messaging?
Thanks! It’s our little reminder that love and good people always win. It’s been a crazy 4 years or so since we began, it’s just an easy message we were reminding ourselves of.
You teamed up with Punctual and NewEra, what sort of energy did they bring into the record?
They brought the perfect mix of “let’s get this done” and “let’s have fun doing it.” They’re all super accomplished and we have a laugh, so it’s a great combo.
Could you tell us more about the recording process of ‘Generation Love’?
We just wanted to write something that felt like it could cross generations, be sang and remembered easily by everyone. The lyric is very inspired and a call to action. “We come together”, “We Say hey now!” We wanted people to feel like they could get behind that.
How do you go around choosing collaborators for specific songs?
It’s like artist dating, lol. We vibe, we click, and if the chemistry’s there, we make music.
Who are some artists left on your dream collaborator list?
Justice. Tame Impala. Bon Iver. Daft punk, if they would could back for us.
Another global hit you released is ‘We Could Be Love’ featuring Hayden James. It’s an absolute smash! Your music continues to convey your core messaging of togetherness. What does it feel like performing these joyful songs in front of an audience?
This is one of our favourites, across the board. People just love to get behind the message of togetherness, that’s why people go watch DJ’s especially, to feel like their a part of something bigger than themselves. That’s probably why they go down so well.
Were there any accomplishments or other things you were able to tick off your bucket list in the last couple of years?
Definitely! Grammy noms, a transition to behind the decks, and now, we get to tour the US. We’ve checked a lot off, but we’ve got a few more fun things left to do. Stay tuned!
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Words: Karolina Kramplova